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No. 1 5-Star DL Elijah Griffin Commits to Georgia over Miami, USC, Oregon, Penn State

Adam Wells

Georgia's defensive line is going to add another anchor in 2025 with Elijah Griffin announcing his commitment to the Bulldogs on Friday.

Speaking to Benjamin Wolk of 247Sports about his decision, Griffin said he wants to be with "a winning program" and Georgia offers him that opportunity after he also considered offers from Miami, USC, Oregon and Penn State:

"Honestly just seeing the whole D-line in action and how I felt I could relate to everybody in that D-line room and how I felt like I'm capable of fitting in that system and what the standard in that building is. It's something set at a high level, and that's something I want to be a part of, a winning program. I'm just testing my courage by going to the University of Georgia because it's not going to be easy. It's definitely not going to be easy, and I know that. At the end of the day, this game is a business, and I want to take advantage of whatever I can. Also, development is the key, and this is the best decision for me personally."

A standout at Savannah Christian Prep in Georgia, Griffin is a 5-star recruit and top-ranked defensive lineman in the 2025 class by 247Sports' composite rankings.

Griffin said on Oct. 13 that he would be announcing his commitment on Friday. He previously revealed over the summer that Georgia, USC and Miami were his top three schools.

Griffin's announcement that he would be committing this week came after he attended Georgia's 41-31 victory over Mississippi State on Oct. 12.

Per 247Sports' director of scouting Andrew Ivins, Griffin is a "disruptive interior force that fuses exceptional physical traits together with an advanced feel for the game."

Using the 247Sports' composite weight rankings that judges players on a scale up to 1.000, Griffin's 0.9983 rating makes him the second-best defensive line recruit for Georgia during the Kirby Smart era dating back to 2015.

The only player ahead of Griffin on the list was Trenton Thompson when he was the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2015 class.

Georgia's 2025 recruiting class now ranks third in the nation with 23 total commitments, including four 5-stars. The only teams ahead of the Bulldogs are Ohio State and Alabama.

There are few things more dependable in college football that Georgia having elite talent on the defensive line. The program has had at least one defensive lineman drafted into the NFL in each of the past three years, including first-rounders Jalen Carter, Travon Walker and Jordan Davis. Nolan Smith could also slot into that group as a pass-rushing outside linebacker.

Griffin's talent suggests he could be an immediate impact player for the Bulldogs next season. Even if he doesn't start right away, Smart and defensive coordinator Glen Schumann will find ways to get him on the field as a true freshman.

   

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